Red Lion Restaurant & Tavern: Europe meets America in Southwest Charlotte

The Red Lion Restaurant & Tavern tries to replicate the European “Gastronomy Pub” with traditional pub décor, large pints of imported beer, and classic European dishes like Bangers and Mash, Shepherd’s Pie and Fish & Chips. But the establishment doesn’t just try and copy the European style; it re-imagines it with an Americanized twist.

The Red Lion is an eclectic restaurant and bar that seems to be fitting into the shopping complex “Ayrsley” in southwest Charlotte. Since opening in 2008, the Red Lion has gone through a number of changes with management, owners, and menus, but the combination of Europe meets America has not changed.  

The antique wooden tables, chairs, and bar top scream “Euro-pub,” but the gigantic flat screen HDTVs above showing MLB baseball or NFL football yell back “America!” The classic European food staples are all there, but so are American dishes like Fried Pickles, Crab Cakes, Shrimp and Grits and Fish Tacos. 

Not only does the menu feature a large quantity of items — and also includes sandwiches, salads, and desserts — but the bar is stocked with a full list of wine and spirits along with several dozen beers on tap and in bottles. Beer connoisseurs will not be disappointed with the selection, as the European/American theme continues on the beer list.

The Red Lion Restaurant & Tavern offers a Lunch, Dinner and Late Night Menu, with most of the dinner entrees running $10 to $14. Sandwiches, salads and appetizers are $6 to $11. The lunch menu is similar, but the prices are a few dollars cheaper. Items from the Late Night Menu start being served at 10 pm and are a limited menu of some of the favorites at the Red Lion.

HelloCharlotte Tip: The Red Lion Restaurant & Tavern have different drink specials each night, including $2.50 pints on Wednesdays and half-priced wine on Thursdays. Sometimes the specials change, so head to their Web site at http://redlionnc.com to subscribe to their newsletter.

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